Commerz Securities has hired Jarl Smidt-Olsen, equity derivatives trader at Mizuho Securities in Tokyo, and plans to groom him as a replacement for Patrick Sollinger, former head of index trading in Tokyo, who left earlier this year (DW, 4/25). Neil Brazil, spokesman at Commerzbank Securities in London, confirmed the move, but declined further comment. Smidt-Olsen, who is a six-year veteran of the Japanese market and has also worked at JPMorgan in Tokyo, declined comment.
Smidt-Olsen now reports to Adrian Brindle, head of equity derivatives in Tokyo. At Mizuho Smidt-Olsen reported to Paul O'Brien, head of equity derivatives. O'Brien and Brindle did not return calls.